Christmas in February

OK ... so it's official. I'm a freak. I started my annual Christmas ornaments this weekend. I know ... it's only February, and I still have like 10 months before they need to be ready. But, I don't have much else going on in my studio, so I figured I'd get a jump-start on them. I mean, after all, I have like 100 of them to make ... might as well get started!

So as I was putting together the first 10 ornaments, I wound up with a bag of heads. It cracks me up every time I look at it. I don't know why. It just does. I'm a nerd. So, without giving too much away, here's a sneak peak at this year's ornament. Sorry ... you'll have to wait 10 more months before you can see the rest of it. :o)

Um ... what??

Paula Abdul made this comment last night after one of the American Idol contestants sang an amazing rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" :

I want to squish you and squeeze your head off and dangle you from my rear-view mirror.

So, is that a compliment??

Mission Impossible

So ... on the way to lunch today, I was having a conversation with Ani about giving up something for Lent. She told me that I should consider giving up frappucinos. I immediately looked at her like she had 6 eyes and a mustache. SERIOUSLY???!!?? um ... No Way. I mean, really. 40 days without frappucinos?? Impossible. Of course, Raymond chimed in and said that given my "sin patterns" I should give up frappucinos AND doritoes ... I think that's going a bit far, don't you??

Then, I got to thinking ... even though I'm not Catholic anymore, I still recognize that giving up something for Lent can be a good thing. If we sacrifice something that is dear to us, it is a good reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross on our behalf. Think about it ... He gave up His seat in heaven to come to earth as a man and died in order to make us right with God. Sacrifice gets our focus off ourselves and helps us to turn our eyes to Him in worship as we realize how HUGE His sacrifice was ... not to mention how much it helps to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Easter. When I think of it that way, giving up frappucinos is the least I could do.

So, wish me luck, y'all ... I'm gonna do it! No frappucinos for 40 days!!! (better sell your Starbucks stock now, before it plummets tomorrow!)

And, in the spirit of Mardi Gras, I'm off to go get one last frappucino ...